Hodgson eyeing Allan impact

Roy Hodgson has backed Scott Allan to become an important player for West Brom after a fee was agreed for the midfielder.

Last Updated: 30/12/11 11:45pm

Scott Allan: Roy Hodgson is looking forward to working with the midfielder

Roy Hodgson has backed Scott Allan to become an important player for West Brom after a fee was agreed with Dundee United for the midfielder.

Hodgson is to meet with 20-year-old before the Baggies' FA Cup third-round clash with Cardiff next weekend and hopes to complete a deal.

Glasgow-born Allan, who has won four Scottish Under 21 caps, has been tracked by the Baggies for a lengthy period and could become their first signing of the January transfer window.

Head coach Hodgson said: "It would be very nice if the move for Scott went through. We've followed him for a long time and we're making every effort to persuade him to come to the club.

"I believe a fee has been agreed. He's coming down (from Scotland) and I'll meet him before the Cardiff game.

"I'm not 100% sure how certain the deal is to be done, but I'm certainly hoping it will be.

"This is not just a player we're bringing in for the next four or five months.

"This is a player that we think in the next few years will be an important player for the club."

Jelavic speculation

Hodgson has been linked with Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic and saw the player in action while watching the Old Firm clash at Celtic on Wednesday.

But he is adamant West Brom have not enquired about the Croatian international.

Hodgson said: "Everyone is linked with Jelavic, on the basis that Rangers are in grave financial difficulty.

"The Rangers manager (Ally McCoist) has said that if they get a good offer for Jelavic, they'd have to sell, so I suppose we would join the list of the clubs that are going to be linked with him.

"It (the Old Firm match) was an opportunity to see the player everyone is talking about, but I don't think our name would be at the top of that list as potential candidates for him.

"I can't talk about the price they're asking for Jelavic, I've no idea, we haven't made any enquiries for him."

Hodgson is dismissive of the suggestion Albion midfielder Graham Dorrans would be part of any potential deal for Jelavic and said: "no, I'm not interested."

Hodgson also appears to be cooling his interest in signing New York Bulls defender Tim Ream, as he said: "He's not available on loan. The news we have is that they want to sell him - if they want to let him go at all.

"You'd then have to go through the progress of getting a work permit. That would be the next question.

"We're not pursuing it vigorously, but things seem to change every day."

No rush

Hodgson remains in no rush to sign a new contract - his current one runs out next summer - although he conceded the club would be happy for him to extend his say.

He said: "At the moment I'm enjoying it day by day and month by month.

"I'm sure there'll come a time when I can make a clear decision about what I want to do in the future.

"At the moment, I prefer to just relax on it and keep working on the day-to-day basis and putting as much into the club as I have been since I came here.

"We don't have timescales. The club's been very good in that respect, they're not stressing me.

"But they've been kind enough to let me know that, if I want to sit down, they'll be more than happy to sit down with me.

"At the moment, I'm quite happy where we are and let's see how things develop."